ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) Receives Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

Shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) have earned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-eight ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, eight have issued a hold recommendation, seventeen have issued a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $140.60.

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Susquehanna lifted their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $155.00 to $161.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 17th. Freedom Capital upgraded shares of ConocoPhillips from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, August 10th. Seaport Research Partners began coverage on shares of ConocoPhillips in a research note on Thursday, September 3rd. They set a “neutral” rating for the company. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on ConocoPhillips from $143.00 to $153.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 12th.

ConocoPhillips Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of COP stock opened at $137.16 on Tuesday. ConocoPhillips has a one year low of $85.57 and a one year high of $138.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 1.39. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $123.34 and a 200 day moving average price of $120.33. The stock has a market cap of $164.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 0.13.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The energy producer reported $3.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.90 by $0.34. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 14.22% and a return on equity of 14.72%. The firm had revenue of $19.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.79 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.42 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 32.4% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that ConocoPhillips will post 10.54 earnings per share for the current year.

ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Monday, August 17th were given a dividend of $0.84 per share. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 17th. ConocoPhillips’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.44%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Andrew Lundquist sold 9,487 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.15, for a total value of $1,282,168.05. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 9,593 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,296,493.95. The trade was a 49.72% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Strive Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in ConocoPhillips in the third quarter valued at about $28,000. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in ConocoPhillips by 151.0% in the first quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC now owns 241 shares of the energy producer’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. Allied Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in ConocoPhillips during the second quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, BNP Paribas bought a new stake in ConocoPhillips during the second quarter worth about $33,000. 82.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

ConocoPhillips Company Profile

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) is an independent exploration and production company engaged primarily in finding, developing and producing crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. The company sells its production to refiners, utilities, industrial customers and other energy market participants.

Its portfolio includes conventional and unconventional assets, with operations and development activities in the United States, including Alaska and the Lower 48, as well as Canada, Australia, Norway, Qatar and other international locations.